Love Thing

THE PARTY To honor that national celebration of love, Valentine’s Day, the Joffrey Ballet welcomed Shelley MacArthur for a one-night performance at the Murphy Auditorium. THE SCENE A committee of co-chairs, including Renee Crown, Traci Mansur, Shauna Montgomery and Maria Smithburg among others, brought the evening—aptly titled “What Is This Thing Called Love”—to life. The night kicked off with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception created specially for the occasion by chef Charlie Trotter, and a fresh raw bar provided by Fortune Fish Company featured an array of lobster, crab and oysters, paired with a sampling of limited-production vodkas. With 250 guests in attendance, the concert and benefit was a success, raising $210,000 to support the dance company’s programs and performances. THE HIGHLIGHTS MacArthur was joined onstage by opera stars Alfreda Burke and Rodrick Dixon, and Rich Daniels conducted The City Lights Orchestra. Afterward, it was Champagne and desserts in the auditorium’s lobby because no Valentine’s Day celebration would be complete without a little bit of Chicago’s own Vosges Haut-Chocolat. Photos by Bob Carl